Online Tone Generator: Play Any Frequency
Pick a frequency between 20 and 20,000 Hz, a waveform and a volume: the sound is generated live by your browser. Handy for testing speakers, playing an A 440 Hz or finding the pitch of your tinnitus.
- 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
- 4 waveforms
- Frequency sweep
- Free
100% private — Everything is processed directly in your browser: your files, voice, and image are never sent to Chatzam's servers.
How to generate a tone at a specific frequency?
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Choose the frequency
Move the slider, type a value in Hz, fine-tune with the ±1, ±10 or octave buttons, or pick a note such as A4 at 440 Hz.
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Shape the sound
Select the waveform, start at a low volume and set the left–right balance.
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Listen or sweep
Play the tone, or set up a sweep from one frequency to another over the number of seconds you choose.
A precise, full-featured tone generator
Tuned to the hertz
Slider, direct input and ±1, ±10 or octave buttons to hit exactly the frequency you want, from 20 to 20,000 Hz.
4 waveforms
Sine for a pure tone; square, triangle or sawtooth for a sound richer in harmonics.
Left/right balance
Send the sound to one side only to check each speaker or each earbud separately.
Frequency sweep
The tone glides from one frequency to another over X seconds: ideal for finding the limits of a speaker or of your hearing.
Frequency, notes and octaves: the basics
A sound's frequency is measured in hertz (Hz), the number of vibrations per second: the higher it is, the higher the pitch. In theory, the human ear hears from 20 to 20,000 Hz. Musicians' reference note is A4 at 440 Hz, the pitch of a standard tuning fork. Going up one octave doubles the frequency: the next A is at 880 Hz, the one below at 220 Hz. Between two semitones, the frequency is multiplied by the twelfth root of 2, about 1.0595; that puts middle C (C4) at about 261.63 Hz. The note presets and the octave button save you the math.
Test speakers, headphones or your hearing
A sweep from 20 to 20,000 Hz shows where a speaker stops producing sound, or which frequency makes a piece of furniture or a window rattle. Don't be surprised if you hear almost nothing below 100 Hz on a phone or a laptop: their small speakers struggle with bass, and headphones or a proper speaker will do better. At the high end, the limit mostly depends on your age: it drops gradually over the years, and many adults can no longer hear the very highest frequencies. To check left and right wiring, use the balance control or our “Left-Right Audio Test”.
Tinnitus and safe listening
If you have tinnitus, you can compare the ringing you hear with a sine tone by changing the frequency until you find the closest match. That rough value is worth writing down to discuss with an ENT doctor or an audiologist, but it isn't a diagnosis. In every case, always start at a low volume, especially with headphones, and turn it up gradually: high tones and square or sawtooth waves sound louder and harsher than a sine wave at the same setting. Avoid long listening sessions at high volume, which can damage your hearing as well as your speakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 440 Hz tone?
It's A4, the reference pitch of a standard tuning fork, used to tune instruments. It sits just above middle C on the piano.
What frequencies can the human ear hear?
In theory, from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The upper limit drops with age: a sweep toward the high end shows how far up you can hear, as long as your speakers or headphones can reproduce those frequencies.
How do I find my tinnitus frequency?
Choose the sine waveform and a low volume, then change the frequency until the tone sounds as close as possible to your ringing. Write down the value to discuss with your ENT doctor or audiologist: this test doesn't replace a medical exam.
Why can't I hear low frequencies?
Phone and laptop speakers are too small to reproduce bass properly, especially below 100 Hz. Try headphones or an external speaker.
What's the difference between sine, square, triangle and sawtooth waves?
A sine wave is a pure tone with a single frequency. Square and triangle waves add odd harmonics, and a sawtooth adds all harmonics: the sound is richer and more piercing at the same frequency.